Members of the Lenoir Committee of 100 got some relief Wednesday from the daily drumbeat of bad economic news, as they learned of signs of local progress, including increased industrial hiring and a variety of downtown businesses scheduled to open in the coming year.

“All of this, remember, has occurred during a recession, so you can imagine what it’s going to be like (when things turn around),” outgoing C100 President Rob Bizzell told members who gathered at the Kinston Country Club for the group’s annual meeting.

Bizzell completed his two-year term as president of the nonprofit group of Lenoir County residents and business leaders, which supports local economic development efforts.

He passed the gavel to Paul Busick, who will serve as president through 2014, along with the current slate of new officers.

“It’s been a good two years,” Bizzell said.

Wednesday’s meeting included reports from Lenoir County Economic Development Director Mark Pope; Don Blake, director of quality and site services at Spirit AeroSystems’ Kinston manufacturing facility; and Trent Mooring and Stephen Hill, the cofounders of Mother Earth Brewing.

Spirit, which is headquartered in Wichita, Kan., has been operating in the N.C. Global TransPark for two years, building aircraft components.

Blake and his family moved from Wichita to Kinston, and he said Wednesday they have been welcomed “in such a fashion we’ve felt like we were at home the whole time.”

He told the audience 360 full-time employees plus up to 24 contractors were currently employed at the Spirit plant here, and the company is on track to fill its commitment to hire 1,017 people within five years from its opening.

Blake said the company is continuing to process new applications and coordinate training with Lenoir Community College.

“We are still trying to get people in the doors as quick as we can,” he said.

Hill and Mooring said Mother Earth has grown from brewing 2,000 barrels a year when the brewery opened in 2009 to 7,000 barrels this year.

The brewery ­— built in a former drive-through pharmacy downtown at Herritage and North streets — has the capacity to brew 10,000 to 12,000 barrels, and company officials have purchased neighboring property with an eye toward expansion.

Hill also updated the C100 members on efforts by him and fellow businesspeople to develop new downtown eating establishments — and a music venue — and improve housing in the nearby Mitchelltown neighborhood, in order to attract artists to live and work there.

“Those guys are just modest for all that they have done to the downtown area,” Pope said of Hill and Mooring.

Pope talked about the partnerships Lenoir County has built with state officials, educators, industry and more, and how the local economy has benefited.

“We wouldn’t get the things we’re getting now if we didn’t have those partnerships in place,” he said.

Page 2 of 2 - Pope also discussed the status of major transportation projects, the community outreach efforts of local industrial employers Sanderson Farms and Smithfield Foods and the need to educate local youths so they are qualified for high-tech jobs.

“We’ve got to have all of those parts of the wheel working together,” he said.

David Anderson can be reached at 252-559-1077 or David.Anderson@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at DavidFreePress.

BREAKOUT BOX:

Here are some updates presented at Wednesday’s Committee of 100 meeting:

Spirit expects to have about 400 employees by end of year

Airbus A350 XWB parts built by Spirit are in Airbus production line

350 expected to debut at 2013 Paris Air Show

Mother Earth beer now sold in North Carolina and Georgia, soon in Washington, D.C.

Mother Earth has obtained distilling license to make spirits

Asian bistro in Harvey-Brody building expected to open early next year

Oyster/burger bar, operated by Ben Knight and Vivian Howard of Chef & the Farmer, to open in spring

Stephen Hill plans to turn Broken Eagle into the Red Room, a music venue

Hull Road veterans’ home nearly up and running

GTP rail spur is complete

Harvey Parkway expansion to U.S. 70 expected to be open to traffic in 12-18 months